Combined permanent closure and loading head for oil tank cars



.J. SIMPSON 1,914,464

COMBINED PERMANENT CLOSURE AND LOADING HEAD FOR OIL TANK CARS June 20, 1933.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 17, 1950 Inventor June 20, 1933. .J. SlMPSON 9 7 COMBINED PERMANENT CLOSURE AND LOADING HEAD FOR OIL TANK CARS Filed June 17, 1930 2 sheets sheet 2 I Inventor Patented June 29, 1933 5E STATES PAT entree JULIAN SIMPSON, 0F BASTRGP, LOUISIANA.

COMBINED PERMANENT CLOSURE AND LOADING HEAD FOR OIL TANK CARS Application filed June 17,

bined permanent closure and loading head or cap for oil tank cars.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a cap of the above mentioned character which will eliminate the need of re-- :10 placing the loading head or cap by a permanent closure head or cap as has been heretofore the customary practice.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during a study of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings:

,Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through the improved loading head, the same being shown when used as a loading head,

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the head when used in the manner of a permanent closure head,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary detail sectional view illustrating certain details of construction to be hereinafter more fully referred to.

lVith reference more in detail to the drawings, it will be seen that my improved closure and loading head resembles somewhat a conventional type of head including the dome like body 5 and depending skirt 6. Extending through the body 5 of the head is a pair of tubes 7 and 8 respectively, the upper ends of which tubes project beyond the upper face of the head or cap. The tubes 7 and 8 at their i '35 lower or inner ends are each normally closed through the medium of a valve cap 9 hinged to the lower end of the tube by a hinge 10 including a spring 11 for normally retaining the valve cap in a closing position.

When the head is being used as a permanent closure the upper ends of the tubes 7, 8 are normally closed through the medium of suit able plugs 12-12 threaded in said upper end.

When using the cap for loading purposes, the plug 12 of the tube 8 is removed and a packing nut 13 threaded in the upper end of the tube 8. A feed pipe 1% has integrally therewith the nut 13 and extends down through the tube 8, the lower end of the pipe 1930. Serial No. 461,764.

14: striking the valve cap 9 moving the same to an open position, whereby the lower end of the feed pipe may extend a suitable distance into the tank of the oil car. Adjacent 1ts upper end the pipe 14: is provided with a conventional type of hand control valve 15. At its uppermost end, the pipe 14 is suitably coupled to the load pipe L, leading from a suitable source of supply, through the medium of a union 16.

To sample the contents of the tank, (not shown), the tube 7 is used for this purpose as will be presently made manifest.

lVhen so sampling the contents of the tank, the plug 12 of the tube 17 is removed and an elbow member 18 at one end thereof is provided with, and has formed integrally there with a packing nut 19 as at 20, while at its lower end the tube 21 has suitably secured thereto the upper end of a perforated conical member 17 for disposition in lower end of tube 7.

At the junction of the branches, the elbow 18 is provided with a stuffing box 22 for alinement with the tube 7 and through which is passed the rod S of a suitable sampling member, the lower end of the rod extending downwardly through the conduit 21 and an opening in the apex of the member 17 for moving the valve cap 9 of the tube 7 to an open position and for retaining the same in said open position.

The sampling mechanism further includes a T-coupling G on the upper end of the pipe S and a nozzle N suitably coupled to one branch of the coupling C through the means of a valve V. A suitable thermometer T rises from the remaining branch of the coupling C in longitudinal alinement with the pipe S. Thus it will be readily apparent that a sample of the contents of the tank may be readily drawn up through the pipe S through coupling C, valve V and discharge nozzle N in the usual manner, while the temperature thereof may be ascertained by the thermometer T.

At the same time vapor from the tank will rise through the conical member 17 to pass through the vapor conduit 21 and L member 18 and through a suitable conduit 23 threaded at one end into the lateral branch of the L member 18 and leading to a suitable. compressor. The member 17 acts to hold the line S in a vertical position and prevents the same from vibrating or moving with the action of the pressure of the valve 9 or vapor pressure as vapor is being taken oil or being allowed to escape. The perforations in said member 17 permits the passage of gas or vapor through the tube 7.

From the foregoing then it will be seen that a tank head or cap embodying the features of the present invention may be readily used both as a loading head and a permanent closure, since obviously when the loading, and sampling elements above referred to are removed after the loading and sampling process, the said elements may be readily replaced by the closure plugs 12-12 thus completely sealing the upper end of the tubes 7 and 8, while upon withdrawal of said loading and sampling elements, the valve cap 90f the respective tubes will swing under the action of their spring hinges to aclosing position thus insuring against any escape of fumes, or contents of the tank. Of course, either of the tubes 7 and 8 may be used for accommodating the filling pipe and sampling mechanism, said tubes being identical, and it is not necessary to turn the car around as either tube can be used, the one handiest to the connection at the loading rack being used.

In sampling out refineries or places at which unloading is to take place, the plug 12 from either of the tubes 7 and 8 may be removed, and the sampling mechanism inserted through the tube from which the plug has been removed, the pipe S of the sampling mechanism being suitably retained in position so that its lower end will not come in contact with the valve 9 until the elbow member 18 is properly threaded into the top of the tube and the vapor line 23 made fast to the source from which pressure is being supplied in case unloading is to be done with pressure.

As will be further appreciated, by the use of a head or cap embodying the features of the present invention, but one cap is necessary for the tank of the tank car, the one cap serving both as a permanent closure and loading head, thus eliminating the need of a special loading head which after loading operation must be replaced by the usual permanent loading head as has heretofore been the practice.

Even though I have herein shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible to changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described, and the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

A permanent closure and in combination with a dome cap for a tank car, a tube passing through the cap and projecting above and below the same, a valve hinged to the lower end of the tube, spring means for normally holding the valve against the lower end of the tube, the upper end of the tube being internally threaded, an elbow having an externally threaded part fitting in the upper end of the tube, a short tube having its upper end threaded in the lower end of the elbow with its lower end terminating a distance from the lower end of the tube, a conical perforated member having its large end fitting over the lower end of the short tube and said large end contacting pontions of the internal wall of the first-mentioned tube with the lower end of said conical member havlng an opening therein, said lower end being flush with the lower end of the first-mentioned tube, a sampler tube passing through the. elbow and through the short tube and through the conical member with its lower part holding the valve in open posltion, and a pipe connected with the upper end of the elbow.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature. 7 ans JULIAN SIMPSON. 

